14D/13N - 2020 Rome & Portraits of Italy & Apulia

day 1 Arrival in Rome

Upon arrival, meet and greet by your tour leader and transfer to Rome. Check-in at hotel and balance of the day at leisure. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight.

day 2 Rome / Vatican Museums / Optional Rome by Night

After breakfast, your local guide will make you discover highlights of religious and ancient Rome: The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel where you’ll admire Last Judgmentand the Creation by Michelangelo, St. Peter's Square and Basilica. You will also admire the majestic Coliseum (outside) and the Roman Forum (outside). To make the most of your stay, join our optional Rome-By-Night excursion . Overnight at hotel.

day 03 Rome-Florence

Participants joining on the 11 day tour: pick up at 07.30 at your centrally hotel in Rome and transfer to the meeting point to join the group.
Departure to the Cradle of the Renaissance. First you will stop in Michelangelo’s square for a photo opportunity, then your local guide will make you discover Florence during a walking tour of the city including beauties such as Piazza della Signoria with Loggia dei Lanzi (a real open-air museum), the Cathedral (outside), Giotto’s Bell Tower (outside), the doors of the Baptistery and the Church of Santa Croce. Lunch at local restaurant. Overnight in Florence.

day 04 Florence-Cinque Terre

Breakfast at hotel. Today discover one of the most amazing and enchanting landscapes in the world. Five (cinque) villages, suspended between sea and land listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. You will visit by train Vernazza Your journey will continue to visit the enchanting beaches of Monterosso, an ancient fishing village considered the pearl of the Cinque Terre. Back to Florence fro overnight stay.

day 05 Florence-Venice

After breakfast departure to the Door of the Orient. Upon arrival in Venice enjoy a guided tour of this unique and romantic city. Strolling through the ancient and narrow streets of Venice, you will reach the Rialto Bridge (outside) and St-Mark’s Square with the impressive Basilica (outside). Overnight at hotel.

day 06 Venice-Verona-San Gimignano-Siena

After breakfast departure to Verona where your tour leader will make you discover the wide array of monuments and historic buildings of this romantic city, such as Juliet’s Balcony (the star-crossed lover from the masterpiece by Shakespeare) and the Roman Theatre (outside). Then leave to the beautiful hilltop town of San Gimignano, famous all over the world for the skyline of its medieval towers. Today you’ll have the chance to visit a wine estate and taste the world-known Chianti wine accompanied with light dinner. Continuation to the hilltop town of Siena .

day 07 Siena-Rome

After breakfast enjoy a walking tour of the city with your tour escort to admire the Dome (outside), the magnificent square known as Il Campo, where twice a year the “Palio” race is run on bareback horses. Time at leisure for personal discoveries. Continuation to Rome upon arrival enjoy dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

day 08 Rome-Pompeii-Sorrento

After breakfast, departure to Sorrentine Peninsula, visit of cameo factory before arrive in Pompeii, where your local guide will make you discover this ancient Roman city destroyed and buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Then proceed to Sorrento. Dinner and overnight.

day 09 Sorrento-Capri-Limoncello Tasting-Sorrento

After breakfast, transfer to the harbour and cross to the Isle of Capri, famous since Roman times and favourite vacation spot of the Emperor Tiberius. Arrive at the port of Marina Grande take the funicular up to La Piazzetta. Time at leisure to explore the Island. Return to Sorrento where you’ll have the chance to taste “Limoncello”, the liquor made from the fragrant lemon of Sorrentine Area. Dinner and overnight.

day 10 Sorrento-Matera-Alberobello

After breakfast transfer to Apulia, on the east coast of Italy. Stop in Matera, visit of the famous “Sassi”, one of the most impressive sites in UNESCO World Heritage list and the location of the filming of Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ”. After the visit, continue to Alberobello. Apulia is famous for its great food and it is considered the granary of the Country. Dinner will be served at the hotel and overnight.

day 11 Alberobello-Lecce-Ostuni-Alberobello

After breakfast depart to Lecce that presents an architectural feast. An ancient settlement of the Messapii tribes, it is the principal Baroque city of Apulia. This morning our local guide will bring this and more to light. After lunch at your leisure, you'll move on to Ostuni, the White City, perched on a hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea and inhabited at least since 1000 BC by native peoples. Back to hotel, dinner and overnight.

day 12 Alberobello-Wine Tasting-Martina Franca- Amalfi Coast

After breakfast, depart for an excursion to Alberobello, a village of one thousand fairytale-like “Trulli”, round white houses with tall conical roofs. Your tour leader will explain their mysterious origins and why people continue to build them. Proceed to a farm near Alberobello for a tasting of their excellent “Primitivo” wine (with light lunch) and a visit to the Wine Museum. Then visit of Martina Franca and its beautiful old city centre. In the afternoon proceed to Amalfi Coast via the magnificent and breath-taking Amalfi Drive. Dinner and overnight.

Day 13 Amalfi Coast / Rome

Breakfast at the hotel. About noon leave to Rome.Overnight at hotel.

Day 14 Rome Airport/Airport

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Fiumicino Airport to catch your flight back home.

Inclusions: twin share in 4 star hotels, breakfast daily, 1 welcome dinner, 1 lunch, 5 dinners, 1 speical diiner in Rome with music & ½ Wine &1./2 water included, 1 Limoncello Tasting, 2 wine tasting with light lunch in Alberobello, deluxe Coach, licensed Professional English speaking tour escort, admission fees of Vatican Museums, Church of Santa Croce in Florence; Pompeii Excavations; Cave House and Rocky Church in Matera; Archaeological Park in Ostuni; dedicated and licensed local guides (Florence, Venice, Pompeii, Matera, Lecce & Ostuni), headsets in Florence, Venice, Pompeii ; Shared transfer from hotel in Rome to meeting point, local train ticket in Cinque Terre, boat TRF to/from Venice, hydrofoil to/from Capri, baggage handling at hotel - 1 piece of luggage per passenger, services and taxes.

Exclusions: Tips, drinks at meals, optional excursions, hotel city taxes must be paid on spot.

Hotels: Rome – American Palace, Florence-Mediterraneo, Venice-Casanova, Siena- Four Points Sienai, Sorrento: GH Flora, Alberobello Region:G.H. Olimpo, Amalfi Coast: La Lucertola (or similar)

Note: For operational reasons, the order of excursions may be changed. Optional excursions not specified in our Itinerary, will be suggested by our tour leader.